All nonprofits need a history statement. This gives you credibility and invites people "behind the scenes" of your organization. We all like to know who we're dealing with, and your history statement introduces potential donors to the people and the passion that inspired you. Follow these steps to write your history statement.
Instructions
1. Gather information to write your history statement. Look at all materials you've given to donors such as newsletters, brochures, direct mail pieces and annual reports. Talk with staff and board members who've been involved with the nonprofit for a long time.
2. List key events and decisions that affected your nonprofit. You must explain changes such as a revised mission statement, organization name change, personnel changes and program additions and subtractions. Your goal in the history statement is to present continuity in your operations.
3. Decide on a structure for presenting your information. This depends on how much history you have to tell. A long-standing organization may benefit more from a chronological structure while a grassroots group may do fine with an essay-style statement.
4. Date each major event and decision. Try to get an exact date, as this kind of detail gives you greater credibility. Depending on the activities of your organization, you may opt to list developments by single year, five year periods or decades.
5. Use an essay style if you don't have much history or many changes to report. Think in terms of an introduction, body and conclusion. Structure your essay around major changes or, if there were few, time periods.
6. Include biographical profiles of key people in the organization. A nonprofit organization is a group of people coming together to solve problems. Your donors appreciate knowing who's behind the steering wheel.
7. Include the history statement in all of your nonprofit materials. Post it on your website. It's a good idea to write a shortened version that's suitable for smaller documents if it's a long one.
